Article conveying mechanism



Aug. 23, 1949. A. 'w. ARNOLD 2,479,709

ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

Aug. 23, 1949. A. w. ARNOLD 2, 7

ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2'7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT R. WWW

HTTOENEVS.

Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE CONVEYING MECHANISM Alex W. Arnold, La Crosse, Wis.

Application November 27, 1943, Serial No. 511,919

The present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of transferring diverse articles from place to place along a definite path, and relates more specifically to various improvements in the construction and operation of article conveying mechanisms, being a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 367,053, filed November 25, 1940 and issued as Patent No. 2,339,832 January 25, 1944.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide new and useful improvements in the construction of mechanisms for conveying a suc cession of articles along a definite path, while the articles may be subjected to various kinds of treatment.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved step-by-step conveyor which is adapted to gently transport a contacting succession of relatively frail bodies along a predetermined route, in a positive and efficient manner.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanical conveyor for advancing a series of article carrier devices through a series of parallel zones in succession, and for ultimately returning the devices to the starting or loading zone.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved conveying system for constantly circulating an endless series of articles or carriers therefor, along a circuitous path with minimum power consumption and without danger of breaking relatively brittle articles.

Still another specific object of my invention is to provide an improved conveyor assemblage for quickly and eifectively transporting a series of individual objects such as milk bottles through a succession of treating zones such as washing, rinsing and sterilizing chambers or the like.

An additional specific object of the invention is to provide various improvements in parallel bar or grid type conveyors for transferring diverse bodies from place to place by intermittent steps, whereby the construction thereof is simplified while the efficiency of operation is enhanced to a maximum.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and some of the improved features of conveyor construction shown but not specifically claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 367,053, filed November 25, 1940, are being included herein.

A clear conception of the several features con- 6 Claims. (Cl. 198-219) stituting the present improvement, and of the mode of constructing and of operating several types of conveyors embodying the invention, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the improved article conveying mechanisms looking down upon the guiding structure and one type of conveyors and showing the endless series of article carriers in dot-and-dash lines;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the lower supporting casing of the conveying mechanism, showing the movable article advancing bars of the conveyor in lowermost position and also showing the chain drives in dot-and-dash lines; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the bar conveyor of Fig. 2, showing the movable bars in mid-position and toward the extreme'righti Fig. 4 is a similar diagrammatic side view of the sameconveyor, showing the movable bars in uppermost position; 7

Fig. 5 is another similar view of the same conveyor, showing the movable bars in mid-position but toward the extreme left;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a modified bar conveyor embodying the invention, showing themovable article advancing bars in lowermost position and also showing the chain drives in dot-and-dash lines;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the modified conveyor, showing the movable bars in mid-position and toward the extreme right;

Fig. 8 is another similar view of the modified conveying structure, showing the movable bars in uppermost position;

Fig. 9 is still another similar view of the modification, showing the movable bars in mid-position and toward the extreme left;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic bottom view of the modified conveyor assemblage, showing some of the elements displaced from actual position in order to avoid complication;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the improved article carriers;

Fig. 12 is a top view of the article carrier of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary top view of one of the curved guides showing one of the anti-friction rollers thereof coacting with a passing article carrier.

While the improvement has been illustrated and described herein as being advantageously applicable to washers for simultaneously transporting and cleansing articles such as milk bottles while the bottles are disposed in inverted position within the endless series of carriers, it is not my desire or intention to thereby unnecessarily restrict the invention. It is also noteworthy, that either of the types of bar conveyors, one of which is shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, and the other of which is shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, may be utilized with equal advantage in conjunction with the. improved article carriers and guiding structure without affecting the operation or utility of the carriers and guides.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and Figs. 11, 12 and 13, the milk bottlev conveying and washing assemblage shown therein, comprises in general a main support or lower casing l5 having upper guiding structure consisting of four parallel laterally spaced elongated sections l5 connected at their ends by curved sections IT to provide a continuous circuitous articl e conducting path t8; several series of parallel elongated; laterally spaced fixed bars t9 secured to the casing I 5 and forming grid-like articlev supporting bottoms. within the several straight sections of the path 8; a set of parallel elongated. movable bars 21!! operable within the. spaces hetween the fixed bars ill of each path section, so as to transport articles. in succession along the path l8; an endless series of contacting article carrying cups or carriers. 2t for inverted milk bot-- tles or the like, filling the path i8 and resting either on the fixed bars I!) or on the movable bars: depending upon the position of the latter; elongated spray pipes 22 interposed centrally of the several rectilinear path sections and between the bars thereof a. pump 23. for circulating cleansing liquid through the spray pipes 22 from a liquid supply basin 24 within the casing t5; and common means: such as an electric motor 25 for driving the pump 23,. and for actuating the movable conveyor bars 20.

ihe maincasing l5 may be formed of sheet metal or the like and may also be provided with suitable supporting legs 26 in order to bring the guiding structure and conveyor decks to desired height. The endless. article conducting path t8; may also be provided with an end loading and unloading section 21 having parallel article sup porting rollers 23 therein as shown in Fig. 1, and

the curved upright guide sections 11 are prefershape depending uponthe size and shape of the articles which they are. intended to carry, the carriers 2| specifically shown are provided with upper rims 3i and with upright: ribs. 32 and a bottom 33 having a central hole 34 therein, inorder that these carriers: may support standard milk bottles in upright inverted position. The fixed perforated pipes 22 are positioned so as to deliver jets of liquid upwardly against and, into the inverted bottles being transported along the path [3 by the carriers. 2! and these. spray pipes 23 may be. connected to. the. discharge. side.- or out.- l-et of the pump 23 by piping 35 having suitable control .valves. therein, while the. suction line 36 of the circulating pump 23v may be connected directly to the liquid supply basin 2.4 which is.

Ti l

disposed to catch the liquid dropping from the advancing articles. The pump 23 and motor 25 may also be housed within the casing l5 in a separate chamber 31, and the pump 23 may be driven through a chain drive 38, as shown in Fig. 2.

As shown diagrammatically in Figs. 2 to 5 in clusive, the improved step-by-step conveying mechanism may consist of the fixed bars [9; the several sets of movable bars 20 which are operable in the adjacent elongated straight lane sections of the path l8; front and rear cams or eccentrics 39, 4!] respectively for raising and lowering the movable bars 20 to parallel positions through the spaces between the fixed bars IS; a transverse crank shaft 4| for simultaneously reciprocating the. movable bars 2!] during their up and down movement; a chain drive 42 drivingly connecting the crank shaft 4| to the motor 25; and other chain drives 43, 44 connecting the crank M. with the eccentric supporting and driving shafts 45,, Mi respectively, see also Fig. 1. As: shown in Figs. 1 and 10 each set of movablebars, is rigidly interconnected at its front and rear ends by means of lower transverse bearing plates M, 43 respectively, and the eccentrics 39, 69' are constantly rotatable as indicated by the arrows, and coact. with the: plates 41, 48 respectively. In order to cause the carriers 21 within the successive and adjacent elongated. straight path sections, to advance along these sections or lanes inopposite directions as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l, the. successive eccentrics 39-, on each shaft 45, 4.6, are of: opposite throw, that is spaced 180 apart, and the eccentrics 39, 4B of each set are of like throw, see Figs. 1 and 10. The crank shaft 41 which simultaneously reciprocates the movable bars 20 mustalso reciprocate the successive and adjacent movable bar sets in opposite directions, and this crank shaft 41 is therefore provided with cranks 49 of opposite but equal throw, each of which coacts with guide elements secured, to one or more of the movable bars 20 of the. adjacent set through a slide block 50. The conveyor assemblage of Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive isv therefore such that the movable. bars 20 will be constantly alternately elevated and lowered by the eccentrics. 3.9., 40 to positions above and below the upper surfaces of the. adjacent fixed bars l9, and. will be simultaneously longitudinally reciprocated by the cranks 130f. the constantly revolving crank. shaft M; and the movable bars in adjacent successive sets or lanes will be moving up and down and longitudinally in opposite directions at any predetermined moment, so as to advance the carriers 21 step-by-step along the circuitous path (8.

As. shown diagrammatically in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, the modified improved step-by-step conveyor likewise consists of the fixed bars 19; the several sets of movable bars 20 which are operable. in the adjacent elongated straight lane sections of the path l8; front and rear bearing plates 4T, 48 rigidly inter-connecting the front and rear ends, respectively of each of the Several sets of movable bars 20;, and a transverse crank shaft M for simultaneously reciprocating the movable bars 20,, and having oppositely directed successive cranks. K9- coacting through slide blocks 5a with guide. elements 5f secured, to one or more movable bars 2!! of each set. The modified assemblag-e is however provided with modifiedmeans for alternately raising and lowering thebars 20 above and below the upper surfaces. of the fixed bars [9; and while the front eccentric shaft driven by a chain drive 43 and carrying eccentrics 39 coacting with the adjacent plates 41, are provided, for the purpose of raising and lowering the front ends of the movable bars'2ll, the shaft 45 is also provided with additional cams or eccentrics 52 of which there is one for each set of movable bars 20. Each of these eccentrics 52 is of opposite throw from that of an adjacent eccentric 39 cooperating with the same set of movable bars 20, and coacts with one end of a rocker lever 53 the opposite end of which carries a roller 54 coacting with the lower rear plate 48 of the same set of bars 20', as shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive. The medial portions of all of the levers 53 are fulcrumed to swing upon a stationary transverse pivot shaft 55, and while the levers have been shown as being straight and disposed beyond the ends of the plates 41, 48 for the sake of clearness, they are in fact formed to clear the crank shaft 4| and are disposed beneath the plates 41, 48 in the actual machine. Any suitable means such as springs 56 may be provided for keeping the front ends of the levers 53 in contact with the eccentrics 52.

This modified conveyor assemblage is obviously such that the movable bars will be constantly alternately elevated and lowered by the revolving eccentrics 39, 52 to parallel positions above and below the upper surfaces of the fixed bars Hi, and they will always be moved to successive parallel positions by the direct coaction of the eccentrics 39 with the front plates 41, and by the coaction of the eccentrics 52 with the front ends of the levers 53 which swing on the shaft 55 and the rear ends of which coact through the anti-friction rollers 54 with the adjacent rear plates 48. The constantly revolving crank shaft 4| which constantly revolves the eccentrics 39, 52, also reciprocates the movable bars 20, and the movable bar sets in the adjacent lanes of the path l8 should again be moving up and down and longitudinally in opposite directions at any predetermined moment.

During normal operation of the improved bottle washer, the operator may be stationed near the loading and unloading zone 21, and while the major portion of the washing and rinsing path l8 may be provided with a suitable cover, the zone 2'! should be open so as to permit free insertion and removal of the bottles into and out of the advancing carriers 2| which substantially fill the path I8 in order that the cups being transported along the straight lanes or path sections will push those located beyond these parallel lanes around the bends or curved path sections. The driving motor when operating, will cause the pump 23 to constantly deliver Washing liquid from the supply basin 24 through the spray pipes 22 in the form of upwardly directed jets, and this motor 25 will simultaneously drive the conveying mechanism through the chain drive 42. When either type of improved conveying mechanism is employed, the movable bars 20 of each of the straight path sections will be alternately raised and lowered while being simultaneously longitudinally reciprocated, and as these movable bars are raised above the adjacent fixed bars I9 and are moved longitudinally, they will lift and advance the bottle laden carriers 2| engaged thereby, by successive steps along the adjacent straight lanes of the path l8. Since the successive straight sections of the continuous circuitous path l8 are oppositely directed, the successive sections of the conveying mechanism must be constructed to advance the carriers 2| passing through these successive path sections in opposite directions. The

endless series of article carriers 2| are thus positively advanced in step-by-step fashion through the successive rectilinear path sections, and the articles disposed therein are subjected to the spray jets delivered upwardly from the pipes 22, and the spent washing and rinsing liquid drains back into the basin 24 for re-use. As the successive cups or carriers 2| are pushed around the curved path sections which connect the adjacent ends of the straight path sections, they engage the anti-friction rollers 29, 28, thus reducing the frictional resistance and the power required to drive the conveyors.

It is to be noted that both of the improved types of conveying mechanisms act upon the carriers 2| in like manner, since in both types the movable bars 20 are raised and lowered to parallel positions with respect to the adjacent fixed bars I9, and are simultaneously longitudinally reciprocated by means of a constantly revolving crank shaft 4| having successive opposite throw cranks 49. The only difference between the two conveyor types, is the substitution of the levers 53 and rollers 54 of the modified type, for the rear eccentrics 49 of the other type, and this substitution of parts eliminates the chain drive 44 shown in Fig. 2. The modified type of conveyor may therefore be the preferred type, al though either type may be utilized advantageously and both have proven highly successful and efficient in actual use. It is also to be noted that while the upright ribs 32 of the carriers 2| have been tapered so as to properly engage the tapered neck portions of inverted milk bottles, these carriers 2| may be of diverse shapes and sizes so as to cooperate with other kinds of articles, but these carrier cups should preferably substantially fill the path 3 in order to secure maximum capacity and to insure continuity of operation.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that my present invention provides an improved conveyor assemblage for diverse articles, which is extremely simple and compact in 5 construction, and which is moreover highly efficient in operation and flexible in its adaptations. The improved step-by-step bar conveyors divided as shown into adjacent sections which cooperate with the successive parallel elongated lanes formed by the guide walls i6, and being operable to transport the articles in opposite directions through the successive sections of the endless path l8, provide means for rapidly and positively advancing the endless series of cups Without danger of damaging the frail articles carried thereby. The anti-friction rollers 28, 29 located at the curved and transverse path sections, insure smooth guiding and transportation of the carriers 2| while also reducing the power consumption to a minimum, and the improved conveyor assemblage may obviously be utilized to transport various kinds of articles While the same are being subjected to diverse treatment. The improvements have proven highly successful and advantageous in actual use especially in connection with milk bottle washing equipment, and the machine has enormous capacity considering the space occupied and the small power consumption.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation and I claim:

1. In combination, a series of laterally spaced fixed bars, a similar series of bars movable through the spaces between said fixed bars above and below the upper surfaces of the latter, transverse end plates rigidly inter-connecting said movable bars near their opposite ends, a pair of opposite throw eccentrics simultaneously rotatable about a common axis beneath one of said plates, one of said eccentrics coacting directly with the adjacent plate to raise and lower the corresponding ends of said movable bars, a lever interposed between the other eccentric and the other plate being operable to simultaneously raise and lower the movable bars to parallel positions, and a roller coacting with said other plate and being journalled upon the, adjacent end of said lever.

2. In combination, a series of laterally spaced fixed bars, a similar series of bars movable through the spaces between said fixed bars above and below the upper surfaces of the latter, transverse end plates rigidly inter-connecting said movable bars near their opposite ends, a pair of opposite. throw eccentrics simultaneously rotatable. about a common axis beneath. one of said plates, one of said eccentrics coacting directly with the adjacent plate to raise and lower the corresponding ends of said movable bars, and a medially fulcrumed lever having one swinging end coacting directly with the other eccentric and its. other swinging. end provided with. a roller co.- acting directly with the other plate to simultaneously raise and lower said movable bars to parallel positions.

3. In combination, a seriesv of laterally spaced fixed bars, a similar series of bars movable through the spaces between said fixed bars above and below the upper surfaces of the latter, transverse end plates rigidly inter-connecting said movable bars near their opposite ends, a pair of opposite throw eccentrics simultaneously rotatable about a common axis beneath one of said plates, one of said eccentrics coacting directly with the adjacent plate to raise and lower the corresponding ends of said movable bars, a medially fulcrumed lever having one swinging end movable up and down by the other eccentric and its opposite swinging end movable up and down beneath the other plate to simultaneousl raise and lower the movable bars to parallel positions, and a roller interposed between said opposite lever end and the adjacent plate.

4. In combination, a series of laterally spaced fixed bars, through the spaces between said fixed bars above and below the upper surfaces of the latter, transverse bearing elements rigidly inter-connecting the movable bar series near its opposite ends, a pair of opposite throw eccentrics simultaneously rotatable about a common axis beneath one of said connecting elements, one of said eccentrics coacting directly with the adjacent element to raise and lower the corresponding ends of said movable bars, a lever interposed between the a similar series of bars movable other eccentric and the other connecting element and being operable to simultaneously raise and lower the movable bars to parallel positions, and anti-friction means coacting with said other element and being mounted upon the adjacent end of said lever.

5. In combination, a series of laterally spaced fixed bars, a similar series of bars movable through the spaces between said fixed bars above and below the upper surfaces of the latter, transverse bearing elements rigidly inter-connecting the movable bar series near its opposite ends, a pair of opposite throw eccentrics simultaneously rotatable beneath one of said bearing elements, one of said eccentrics coacting directly with the adjacent bearing element to raise and lower the corresponding ends of said movable bars, and a medially fulcrumed lever having one swinging end coacting directly with the other eccentric and its other swinging end provided with anti-friction means coacting directly with the other element to simultaneously raise and lower said movable bars to parallel positions.

6. In combination a series of laterally spaced fixed bars, a similar series of bars movable through the spaces between said fixed bars above and below the upper surfaces of the latter, transverse bearing elements rigidly inter-connecting the movable bar series near its opposite ends, a pair of opposite throw eccentrics simultaneously rotatable about a common axis beneath one of said bearing elements, one of said eccentrics coacting directly with the adjacent bearing element to raise and lower the corresponding ends of said movable bars, a medially fulcrumed lever having one swinging end movable up and down by the other eccentric and its opposite swinging end movable up and down beneath the other element to simultaneously raise and lower the movable bars, and anti-friction means interposed between said opposite lever end and the adjacent element.

ALEX W. ARNOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 337,863 Petrie et al. Mar. 16, 1886 597,838 Castle Jan. 25, 1898 872,856 Spence Dec. 3, 1907 874,330 Groom Dec. 17, 1907 942,514 Palmowsky Dec. '7, 1909 1,400,367 McCann Dec. 13, 1921 1,501,135 Picht July 15, 1924 1,686,122 Brennan Oct. 2, 1928 1,880,112 Shmyrofi et a1. Sept. 27, 1932 1,954,372 Tucker Apr. 10, 1934 2,331,540 Dilling Got. 12, 1943 2,339,832 Arnold Jan. 25, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 301,700 Great Britain Dec. 6, 1928 

